can creation and modern science co-exist? aurorae on Saturn Hubble Space Telescope
the creation modern science can they co-exist?
1 the creation
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 NKJV
What Gen 1:1 tells us about the universe It was created it didn t appear spontaneously It was created with intent, purpose, meaning It has a beginning as matter, as time It encompasses everything that there is heaven and earth idiom It contains all of space and all of time Laws established in the beginning were essential for the purpose of the universe.
What Gen 1:1 tells us about God God is a creator and God is THE Creator God is omnipotent God existed before the universe came into being God is eternal God is greater than the universe it is a product of His will God exists outside of space and time and is bounded by neither God created a distinction between heaven and earth God added a spiritual realm to the physical universe.
First 4 chapters of Genesis teach the principles of a God-purposed life Separation of light from dark, day from night, waters above & beneath Separation of earth from sea Earth to bring forth life of its own Two main kingdoms as a result: plant kingdom, animal kingdom Separation between animals and man The imposition of laws and principles for sustainable life The rule of free-will established of reasoned behaviour Separation between animalistic thinking and Godly thinking Dealing with failure and error and its consequences of separation Principles of restoration and recovery.
emphasis on the word of God *thought, intent, action
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. Psalm 33:6 NKJV
Hebrews 11:3 CJB By trusting, we understand that the universe was created through a spoken word of God, so that what is seen did not come into being out of existing phenomena.
Genesis teaches the why not the how *it is not a scientific text
Isaiah 45:18 NKJV For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.
2 modern science *science deals with the HOW questions
Science has to do with measurement *if it can t be measured science does not apply
Keck Observatory telescopes on Mauna kea in Hawaii the world's largest optical and infrared telescopes.
What does modern science have to say about creation?
A life-friendly universe A bio-friendly universe that seems pre-prepared for life A universe with laws, mechanisms and processes established from the beginning Ordered processes that support and sustain life For example, the chemistry of carbon: Physical Chemical Biological Without any of these there would be no life
a fine-tuned universe anthropic = life supporting
fine-tuning of about 40 key parameters perfectly adjusted in 1 picosecond = 0.000,000,000,001 second
Professor Martin Rees The Lord Rees of Ludlow OM FRS FREng FMedSci FRAS British cosmologist and astrophysicist Astronomer Royal Master of Trinity College, Cambridge President of the Royal Society
fine-tuning of the Universe in 6numbers N if smaller, only a small and short-lived universe could exist Epsilon If 0.006 or above, only hydrogen could exist, and complex chemistry would be impossible Omega if too big the universe would have collapsed, if too weak, no stars would have formed Lambda If not extremely small and stable, no stars and galaxies would be able to form Q If too small, no stars could form, if too large, no stars could survive the violent universe D life could not exist if there were 2 or 4 dimensions
cosmological constant
x10
x150
there would be no life
parameters so finely balanced that the slightest error would result in no life
What is modern science s response to a fit-for-life universe?
a decidedly unscientific response
Multiverse *multiple universes Science cannot measure this Therefore it is outside of science It is a philosophical construct
Professor George FR Ellis Cosmologist & Mathematician: University of Cape Town & Cambridge University he believes in a God
Prof. George FR Ellis: Amazing fine-tuning occurs in the laws that make this [complexity] possible. Realisation of the complexity of what is accomplished makes it very difficult not to use the word miraculous
3 so can creation & science co-exist?
it depends
God spoke His Word Universe no conflict Scripture Science human interpretation potential conflict human interpretation Bible Studies
God s WORLD God s WORD General Revelation Special Revelation both require reason and logic to understand them
The principles of the natural - the HOW should lead us to seek the spiritual - the WHY
Theology Ethics WHY Cosmology Astrophysics Ecology & Geology Applied Sciences Social Sciences Psychology Biology Chemistry HOW Physics Mathematics & Logic
Romans 1:19-20 CJB what is known about God is plain to them, since God has made it plain to them. For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities both his eternal power and his divine nature have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they have no excuse
Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 CJB [God] has made everything suited to its time; also, he has given human beings an awareness of eternity; but in such a way that they can t fully comprehend, from beginning to end, the things God does.
re-uniting Heaven and Earth
and the missing key is the Lord Jesus Christ
Ephesians 1:9-10 CJB [God] has made known to us his secret plan, which by his own will he designed beforehand in connection with the Messiah and will put into effect when the time is ripe his plan to place everything in heaven and on earth under the Messiah s headship.
Heaven and Earth re-united through Jesus Christ alone Colossians 1:15-20 NKJV [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
So if God s Word could create the heavens and the earth
how much is it changing you to be part of God s new spiritual creation in Jesus?
Revelation 22:12-14 NKJV And behold [says Jesus], I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life AMEN